UPCOMING FIXTURES
Saturday 5th January Consett (A) 3pm
Saturday 12th January: Sunderland RCA (A) 3pm
Saturday 19th January: Celtic Nation (A) 3pm
Wednesday 23rd January: Durham (H) 7.30pm
Saturday 26th January: Norton & Stockton (H) 3pm
www.newtonaycliffefc.co.uk
Newton Aycliffe begin 2013 with a tough trip to Consett this weekend.
The Newtonians begin the new year five points above the drop zone but all of the teams below have games in hand.
It means January is a pivotal month for Allan Oliver’s men as every game in the month is against teams in the bottom half of the table, starting with Saturday’s trip to Consett
The last visit to Belle Vue Park in September saw the Royal Blues on the end of a 7-2 thrashing in the League Cup. The Steelmen also won 2-0 at Moore Lane Park the following month in league action.
Back then Aycliffe were stranded at the bottom of the league but five wins in the last 10 – including victories over West Auckland and Darlington – have seen the club climb out of the relegation places.
Following the trip to Consett, Oliver’s side welcome Sunderland RCA to Moore Lane Park (January 12) before a trip to Carlisle to play Celtic Nation the following weekend.
The month is ended with two massive home games against fellow strugglers Durham (Wednesday January 23) and Norton & Stockton Ancients (Saturday January 26).
The club have been boosted by news that they have a fully-fit squad to begin the year with. Mark Wood is over his broken ankle, John Close, Martin Young and Mark Peck are all raring to go while player/coach Danny Mellanby is ready to make an impact from the bench again.
And with only one scheduled weeknight game in the second half of the campaign, last season’s player of the year Darren Craddock should be available for the majority of the fixtures.
By the end of this month it will be clear whether the Newtonians are in for a relegation scrap for the rest of the season or can achieve a safe mid-table position.
All home matches at Moore Lane Park are priced £5 adults and £3 concessions.
